Vegan Refried Beans
Hyper-flavorful vegan refried beans, perfectly spiced and wonderfully creamy. Quick to prepare and great as a nutritious, protein-packed side.
Servings: 3 Cups
Calories: 71kcal
Cost: $4.50
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ cup onion diced
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon coriander
- ½ teaspoon Mexican chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons tomato paste
- 2 cans 15 oz. canned pinto beans drained and rinsed (or 3 cups of cooked pinto beans)
- 1 cup water
- ⅓ cup cilantro minced
- 1 tablespoon lime juice or to taste
- ¾ teaspoon salt or to taste
Optional
- ¼ cup canned hatch chiles minced
- 4 teaspoons chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. After 90 seconds, when the oil is hot, add the diced onion and cook for 3-5 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add the minced garlic, ground coriander, Mexican chili powder, and ground cumin to the skillet. Stir continuously and cook for just one minute until the spices are fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato paste, and the drained and rinsed pinto beans. Pour in the water and stir everything together, ensuring the beans are well coated with the spice mixture.
- Lower the heat to low-medium and let the beans simmer for about ten minutes, or until very soft. Remove the pan from the stove.
- Remove approximately ⅔ of the beans (and liquid) and blend them for 60 seconds on high speed in a blender or food processor until completely smooth.
- Stir the pureed beans back into the pan, along with cilantro, lime juice, salt, and optional hatch chilies or chipotle chilies. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed, possibly adding more water if the beans have become too thick.
Video
Notes
🔥Spice Revival:
Toast older spices in a dry pan over medium heat for a couple of minutes until they smell wonderful. This simple step can rejuvenate their flavors.
🥘 Low and Slow:
Cook refried beans on low heat to enhance their flavor and texture. If they start to dry out, stir in a little water to maintain smoothness.
🌪 Modern Blend:
For the best texture, use a high-speed blender rather than an old, cobweb covered one that has sparks flying out of it. A reliable blender like a Blendtec can significantly improve your purees.
Nutrition
Calories: 71kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 620mg | Potassium: 108mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 187IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg